Any condition you are not used to riding in is a challenge. I have done most of my riding in northern California and Colorado. In Colorado, the trails are generally loose and rocky. California has some wet, muddy conditions, but can also be dry and hard

Now that you have your yearly schedule mapped out and you know what types of training tools you will use as well as when to be tested and how, it is time to start training. In this chapter you will learn about the four phases of training—preparation,

Ride faster and smarter than ever before! Olympian, former national champion, and elite cycling coach Ann Trombley is your authoritative guide to learning how with improved

selection and fitting of equipment for the optimal match of personal attributes with current technology,

technical maneuvers that maximize both speed and safety,

training methods and workouts that yield superior results, and

racing preparations and tactics that make competition more rewarding and more successful.

Serious Mountain Biking gives you the answers to the questions and solutions to the problems you’ve encountered while participating in the sport. No need to continue learning by trial and error when such experience and expertise are at your fingertips. Make every minute and mile you invest on the bike more beneficial and enjoyable with the help of this invaluable resource on mountain biking.

Ann Trombley works as an elite cycling coach to participants of all ages, abilities, and disciplines. She has been a mountain biker for 20 years and has competed for 10, during which time she earned a spot on the U.S. mountain bike racing team at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, won the National Short Track Championship, and placed 12th at the World Championships.

Trombley received a bachelor of science degree in movement education from the Dominican College and a master's degree in physical therapy from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. She is currently a physical therapist at the Boulder Center for Sports Medicine in Colorado. She also runs women's mountain bike clinics, which are designed to help women improve riding skills, assess bike fit, and learn basic maintenance skills. Trombley has been a member of the board for the National Off-Road Bicycling Association (NORBA) and USA Cycling.

Trombley resides in Boulder, Colorado, where she cycles, gardens, and camps in her spare time.